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w.1. TURNER. STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919;

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. i916.

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WILLIAM J. TURNER, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.'

STEAM-HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed. April 6, 1916. Serial No. 89,358.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM J. TURNER, a citizen of the United'v States, residing at Providence in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam heating apparatus. It is among the objects of the invention to provide apparatus, working on a vapor system (meaning by this low pressure, as, for example, under one pound,) or, indeed, on a partia-l vacuum, or on a pressure system (meaning by this a higher pressure), havingl low expense of construction; quick action in eliminating air; certainty and quietness of operation; and automatic adaptation to the change if it be desired, as in severe weather, from a vapor to ay pressure system. VOther objects are to provide apparatus in which the aforesaid results are attained by means that are extremely simple in construction, require no attention in operation and will not getv out of order. In the-se last respects the objects are attained by eliminating valves' and other moving parts, providing for return of water, and condensation to the boiler automatically by gravity, whether the system be a vacuum or a vapor ora pressure system, and at the same time providing againstv the possibility of water backing out of the boiler into the piping system, whether run under vapor or pressure, so that the system is automatically safe in the hands of an inexperienced person. A further means contributing to this is a regulator by which the pressure of steam in the boiler automatically controls the lire, so as to keep the system and apparatus ordinarily operating at any desired low pressure for which the regulator is set, convertible into a higher pressure steam system by the operator at will, by simple adjustment.

These advantages and others are attained by providing a connection from the supply main to the return main, in which connection is a depending loop containing a water seal that ordinarily does not allow steam to pass, but whi-chis automatically destroyed by rise of steam pressure to a predetermined degree and isreformedwhen the pressure is equalized'or falls again. -When so sealed the system may be operated as a vapor system,

with the return main open to chimney suction for removal of air and reduction of pressure in the system. When not so sealed steam from the supply enters `the return main and equalizes pressure, and the chimney suction is automatically cut off.

One embodiment of the invention. is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which:

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic representation of a'system of apparatus embodying the. iuvention; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing on a larger scale details of the return controller in medial section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a detail or' the same on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a plan of adetail of the same ir section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a part of Fig. 1, enlarged, in section on'the line 5 5; and Fig. 6 is a medial section of a modification, corresponding Vto Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a steam boiler 10 is indicated, having the usual or any suitable space for water 11, and for steam 12,

and drafts or damper's 13. y From the steam space a main supply pipe 14 rises to the distribution system, indicated in this case by a single radiator 15, whence a return main 16 descends and leads through a return controller 17 and return riser or main 18 to the water spacell of the` boiler.

There is tree connection between the return riser 18 and the water space 11 so that water can'flow in either direction from one to the other. There is also a freeconnection between the return riser 18 and the steam space 12. This is conveniently installed by putting a coupling 40 in the main steam supply pipe near the boiler,the connection being through al device which includes a passage 19 herein referred to as a 10013, in which water of condensation may gather.

, lVater thus gathered at low pressure forms a'seal that prevents passage of steam or fluid pressure to the return riser. The weight of water inthat leg of the loop which is nearer the return riser 18 balances whatever excess of pressure of' steam exists in supply pipe 14, above that in the return main18. The riser 18 may be open through a pipe 2O to a chimney flue 21 and thus may have atmospheric pressure or less', depending onthe degree jof suction', but it is equipped with an automatic valve 22 of any suitable type adapted to remain open to air but to be closed by steam. Such valves are ordinarily built to be operated by the expansion of metal therein which takes place Whenever steam is in Contact with it. In ordinary operation, under partial vacuum or at low pressure, as a vapor system, steam does not reach this valve, and atmospheric pressure, or less, is established by the fact that the valve is open. The depth to which the loop descends, below the point Where it connects with the return riser, is less than the depth from said point of connection to the Water level of the boiler. Hence Water cannotby boiler pressure be backed up beyond that point in the return riser, for before that level Were reached the same steam pressure that caused it Would also have pushed the Water out of the loop, backing it up similarly and discharging it through the controller into the return riser, and thus Would have allowed steam to rush through and establish pressure in the return main and riser equal to that in the boiler and supply pipe. If steam should flow through in sufficient quantity to reach the valve 22, its escape from the system Would be prevented by the closing of that valve. A similar valve 28 may be put at the outlet of the radiator 15, through which Water of condensation flows out, but steam cannot pass. At the inlet to the radiator any kind of suitable control valve 24 may be installed.

lVhen pressure in the boiler is greater than atmospheric, or greater than the pressure in the return riser, it pushes down the Water in the boiler, raising it in the return riser 18, and at the same time it pushes down the Water in one leg of the loop .19, raising it in the other. So long as Water remains in the loop 19 the return part of the system is separated by this seal from the supply part, and remains open to the atmosphere or suction of the chimney iue. Air in the return or entering it from any part of the system can be drawn off rapidly by the flue; and Water of condensation can return by gravity from any part of the system to the Water in the boiler. lith increase of steam pressure, or increase of pressure difference, Water is pushed farther down in that leg of the loop which is connected to the steam supply riser, with consequence that the Water in the other leg is raised and at its top runs out through the return con troller 17 into the return riser 18. If the pressure difference rises enough for the steam to depress the Water to the bottom of the loop the steam can blow through into the return system, which then becomes of equal pressure, the loop seal being thus de` stroyed.

The length of the Water seal in the loop 19 may Vary considerably, according to preftory or even unavailable.

rence. Having predetermined the pressure difference at Which it is desired that this ivater seal shall fail, the loop is designed With a depth corresponding' to that pressure. t should then be set With its discharge mouth high enough above the Water level in the boiler, so that the Water which is backed up against atmospheric pressure in the return riser 18 by pressure in the boiler does not reach the level of this mouth when the boiler pressure is equal to the total head of Water which the seal is capable of holding. Being thus set, the Water cannot back out of the boiler high enough to do any damage in this system, because the seal Will sooner be blown. Vanes 19 on the exterior of the loop aid condensation so that the Water seal tends automatically to be formed in the loop; and the loop also may preferably be set so that Water of condensation in the supply riser runs doWn into it, thus creating the seal promptly and automatically at every opportunity, and giving the valve and flue connection opportunity to relieve pressure in the return.

|The return controller 17 is preferably a casting of tting which combines in itself the above described loop and means for connecting its discharge to the water return main Without being the occasion of steam or Water hammer. In the form in which this is illustrated it has a horizontal shell 25 extending into the return riser 18 and having tivo horizontal compartments, Ione of which, 2G, is the delivery for Water or steam from the loop 19 and the other of which, 27, is the delivery for Water from the return Water main 16. The return Water portion being under the steam portion, the returning Water does not make direct contact with the shell 25, which incases the steam. Moreover this Water runs along through the part 25 and into the riser 18 While the steam flows above it, in a passage Whose Walls are separated from it, into the same riser. rl`hus the Water and steam ioW in parallel separated but closely adj acent passages for a short distance. So far as the principal operation of the loop 19 is concerned, its mouth might open directly into the Water return main and the return riser 18, but it has been found by eX- perience that When this is done a bad hammer is apt to develop, on such a scale as to render the device commercially unsatisfac- The above described arrangement eliminates this. Reasons that contribute to this doubtless include the structural arrangement by which the passages through which steam and Water flow just before joining each other in the return main are in the same metallic shell, so that temperature conditions are tending toward being equalized by the transference of heat to the Water passage. The heat transfer is also aided by the delay in entrance of steam caused by-projection ofl either the steamor water passage termination into the midst of the joint passage 18, so that both momentum and suction make it easier for the steam to kmove off toward the flue before turning around and entering in great volume into the pipe down which water is returning from the distribution system. By these means the end portion of this water pipe becomes sufficiently warmed. The `length which should be thus warmed will vary ac cording to circumstances. tion, I will mention that often a vapor `fsystem is expected to operate on a few ounces of pressure, and that I found two feet enough in one case, where the return pipe from 3000 feet of radiation was twoinches in diameter and 250 feet long; and that in other cases I have used a shorter length with success. Heat passes by conduction through the metallic walls. Fig. 6 shows another construction of controller which works well, parts havingco'rresponding function being designated by the same reference numeral withvindex prime j y The kwater space 11 also has freeconnection to a receiver 30 at one end of a balance lever 31, the other end of which carries adjustable weights 32. Preferably, and as illustrated, this connection is from the pipe 18 which leads from the water space of the boiler toward the discharge from the loop seal, so that this and the receiver are both subject to the same conditions as regards water that may back out from the boiler, the connection being seen in the drawings at the T 28 in pipe 18, from which T water Hows through pipe 29 to the receiver 30. The lever 31 is connected through chains or other ties 33, 34, to the drafts 13 which control the rate of combustion of fuel in the fire, represented in the drawing as being respectively a damper in the fiue pipe and a door tothe space under the fire box. This receiver cooperates in the automatic control of the apparatus, by positive and powerful action when ever the pressure within the boiler falls sufficiently below, or rises sufiiciently above, a predetermined pressure at which it is desired to operate the system, by the loading .of weights 32. When the pressure in the boiler has risen enough so that the level Aof water raised thereby in receiver 30 corres sponds to a contained quantity whose weight tips the balance lever 31, the tipping sets the damper 13 to reduce the ire.- VThe power available for this is the excess weightof water in the receiver 30. If the dampers stick so that the balance lever does not swing upon a slight excess of weight of water over the weights 32, continued increase of pressure in the boiler will force more water in, until Vthe force is sufficient 4to move the dampers. The actiony in the opposite direcf tion is similar.` A decrease of pressure. in

As an illustra-k the steam in the top of the boiler relieves the surface of the water therein and lets water flow back into the boiler from the receiver 30. The balance lever swings when the weight of water has become less than the weights 32. In the construction of this device the principles of leverage may be uti-Y lized, making the arms longer or shorter, and making the distance the receiver moves up anddown greater or less, according to the preference of the designer. In ordinary operation the upper part of the receiver is open to atmosphere through a tube 35, the top of which is just below a plug or stopper 36. The vtube penetrates and is mounted on a diaphragm 37 which closes the top of receiver 30. Vater, therefore, rises or falls in the receiver 30 freely at atmospheric pressure under normal conditions of partial vacuum or low pressure in the boiler. However, if thepressure should rise high in the boiler the water would tend to rise so high in the receiver 30 as to flow out through the tube 35. Indeed if the pressure were high enough a large portion of the water might be blown out through this vent.k This is automatically prevented by the apparatus just described, and by the fact that the tube 35 extends some little distance below the diaphragm 37. Rise of water in the receiver 30 traps air under the diaphragm, above the level of the bottom of this tube, when the water reaches that level; and further increase of pressure in the boiler forces the water up in the receiver 30 somewhat above the bottom of the tube 35, as for example tothe level of the dotted line 38. In so doing air is compressed between this water level and the diaphragm 37, and an upward pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, which pressure bending the diaphragm upward, moves the tube 35 upward until the end of the tube 35 encounters and is closed by the stop plug 36. Thereafter increase of pressure in the boiler only closes the vent of this receiver the more tightly and does not introduce much more water. This automatically protects the apparatus against conditions'arising,- when the system is under pressure. Although it naturally would happen only after the receiver has become sufficiently filled with water to swing downward and thus to close the drafts, its action is independent of the position of the lever andis effective whether the Aconditions in the boiler are Vthose of pressureA or of partial vacuum, depending as it does wholly upon .thelevel and pressure of water in the receiver 30. Hence it will act even if any one had by mistake placed too many weights 32 on the lever.

The apparatus as a wholeprovides system in which water can under, all circumstances flow from the supply main into the return main, notwithstanding existing Vdifferences of pressure when thev apparatus is iso working under vacuum or at low pressure, while at the same time there is chimney draft or any preferred style of suction aiding escape of air from radiators and helping the vacuum, making the system respond quickly to any setting of radiator valves that the user may make. In fact, for example, the invention can be incorporated in one pipe loop system of steam heating so as to eliminate air and quickly fill the entire loop main with steam, making the remote radiators heat practically as quickly as those near the boiler; and by its use loop systems which are unsatisfactory can many times be made efficient. At the same time no steam can escape from the system either when working thus or when the pressure is higher; and water cannot back out of the boiler to a dangerous extent, notwithstanding the absence of check valve or other moving parts; and the dampers are automatically controlled with varying degree of power as their operative needs require, to keep the pressure at the low limit at which it is desired normally to work the apparatus, the motor being bot-h sensitive and powerful and safe: sensitive because working between atmospheric pressure and a boiler pressure not much different from atmosphere; powerful because operated by weight of water in a receiver which may have any desired horizontal cross section in order to make a slight change of level of water make considerable change of weight, and with increasing power as the differential of level increases until the power is enough to operate the dampers; and safe because while open normally to atmosphere, yet the closure of the escape valve is operated with multiplied power, or with the available force powerfully concentrated, preventing escape of water if the pressure should raise the water level too high therein.

Although the invention is herein described as relating to a steam heating system and is so entitled as being suggestive of the principal use now foreseen for it, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to that particular use but is applicable to systems in which steam is used for purposes other than heating.

I claim:

l. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a depending loop whose bottom is above water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a sufH- cient difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; the part of the return main approaching said connection being arranged with relation to the discharge from the loop so as to be heated thereby.

2. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler andy with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a depending loop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a sufhcient difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; there being passages in which steam from the loop and water in the return main iow beside each other separately a short distance before occupying a passage together.

3. In av steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a depending loop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a sufficient difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; there being passages in which steam from the loop and water in the return main iow beside each other separately for a short distance before occupying a passage together; the end of one of said separate passages projecting into the midst of the other at their junction.

4. In a steam system7 the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a dependingloop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a suiiicieut difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; there being passages in which steam from the loop and water in the return main fiow beside each other separately fora short distance before occupying a passage together; and there being means `for drawing gases in the return main away from the passage down which return water is flowing to the point of junction.

5. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a depending loop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a suflicient difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; there being means to heat the passage delivering water to the junction between said loop and return main, comprising an arrangement of said passage and the steam discharge passage with one substantially surrounding the other for a distance before their union.

6. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mains having a depending loop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may seal said connection and be blown out by a sufiicient dierence of pressure, thereby permitting` passage of steam; there being passages in which steam from the loop and water in thereturn main flow beside each other, separated by metal, for a short distance before entering the same passage.

7. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a connection between said mainsv I having a depending loop whose bottom is above boiler water level, wherein water may` seal said connection and be blown out by a sufficient difference of pressure, thereby permitting passage of steam; there being a passage in which steam from the loop and water in the return main flowbeside each other, separated by metal, for a short distance before entering the lsame passage; the whole being arranged with the water passage under the steam passage.

8. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold a water seal; the said loop having means adapted to expedite condensation within it, and having its overflow into the return main above the level at which water stands therein and having a direct connection from its said overflow to a Hue adapted to permit the removal of gases other than steam.

9. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to bot-h, with .its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold `a wa ter seal; a regulating device for dampers of the boiler heater; and connections whereby the said regulator is controlled by the same pressure in the boiler that tends to blow out said water seal.

10. In steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing. connection' between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold a water seal; a movable receiver connected with the water-holding part of the pipe joining the loop with the water space of the boiler, wherein water may rise and fall freely un-` der the influence of the same steam pressure which affects water in said loop; and connections whereby the relative weight of Water therein controls the dampers of the boiler heater.

11. In a steam system, the combination with a. boiler, and with supply kand return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, kwith its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold a water seal; a balanced lever controlling dampers of the boiler heater, having ya weight on one arm, and on the other arm a receiver connected to the water-holding part of the pipe joining the loop with the water space of the boiler and adapted to hold wa terl enough to tip the lever before the steam pressure is enough to blow out said-seal.

12. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connectionk between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold a water seal; a balance lever controlling dampers ofthe boiler heater, having a weight on one arm, and on the other arm a receiver connected to the water-holding part of the pipe joining the loop with the water space of the boiler and adapted to hold water enough to tip the lever before the steam pressure is enough to blow out said seal, the said receiver having a vent to the atmosphere and means to close the vent automatically when the water has risen in the receiver above the level reached when the water in said seal is blown out.

13. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and yadapted to hold a water seal; a balance lever controlling dampers of the boiler heater, having a weight on one arm, and on the other arm a receiver connected to the water-holding part of the pipe joining the loop vwith the water space of the boiler and adapted to hold water enough to tipV the lever, the said receiver having a vent to the atmosphere, and means to close the vent automatically when the water has risen a predetermined amount in the receiver.

14. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and adapted -to hold a water seal; a balance lever controlling dampers of the boiler heater, having a weight on one arm, and on the other arm a receiver connected to the water-holding part of the pipe joining the loop with the water space of the boiler. and adapted to hold water enough to tip the lever before the steam pressure is enough to blow out said seal; there being a connection from said return main to a flue having an automatic stop for steam approaching said'ue, and there being a vent for said receiver to atmosphere with an automatic stop for water approaching said vent.

15. In a steam system, the combination with a boiler, and with supply and return mains, of a pressure equalizing connection between said mains comprising a depending loop open to both, with its bottom above boiler water level and adapted to hold a water seal; a balance lever controlling darnpers of the boiler heater, having a weight' on one arm, and on the other arin a receiver connected to the water-holding part of the 5 pipe joining the loop with the water space of the boiler and adapted to hold water enough to tip the lever before the steam pressure is enough to blow out said seal; a flexible diaphragm and a vent at the top of 10 said receiver; said vent having its inlet from the receiver only at a distance below the diaphragm, whereby water rising above said entrance seals air in the part of the receiver where said diaphragm is; and means whereby outward fiexure of the diaphragm occasioned by further rise of water closes said vent.

Signed by lne at Eoston, Massachusetts, this twenty eighth day of March, 1916.

VILLIAM J. TURNER- l/Vitnesses EVERETT E. KENT, JOSEPH T. BRENNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

